Blocked Ear: Causes and Treatment Options

Do you suffer from a blocked ear? It can be incredibly bothersome to have an ear (or even both ears) that fails to let sound in properly. Not only might you struggle to hear others properly but it can lead to self consciousness and failure to indulge in the things you like, such as listening to music or swimming.

What are the Symptoms of a Blocked Ear?

A blocked ear can cause many different types of sensations to affect the ear. For some, the major symptom could be that sounds seem to be muffled, like you’re listening from under water. You might experience a wishy-washy sound in your ear similar to the sloshing of water. Alternately, you might find that your ear pops or crackles when you lie down, sit up, or tilt your head to the side. Another common symptom of ear trouble is a dull ache in the ear that may be accompanied by inner portion of the ear feeling full or under pressure. Hearing loss is a highly reported symptom.

Ear Infection

What many of us simply refer to as a clogged ear is most often the after effects of a previous ear infection. When the inner portion of the ear becomes infected it can result in a buildup of fluid that can’t always be drained as it normally would. Therefore this fluid just sits in the ear until the Eustachian tube repairs itself and allows the fluid to drain. Then the inner part of the ear returns to normal. As this fluid remains in the ear it can keep you from hearing properly and can even contribute to the stuffed up or full feeling that is likely to occur deep inside your ear. If you put your finger right behind your ear lobe near the bone there, this would be the closest you could get to pin-pointing the area.

Dysfunctional Eustachian Tube

Your symptoms could also be the result of a Eustachian tube problem. The Eustachian tube is a tube of tissue that connects the back of the nose to the inner portion of the ear (behind the ear drum). The main job for this tube is to keep the pressure inside the ear relatively balanced. Sometimes you can force the pressure to equalize by popping your ears. This tube is made up of the same tissues that create the inner part of the nasal cavity, and much in the same way that a cold or bacterial infection can cause swelling of nasal tissues, this can also occur in the Eustachian tube. An infection or irritation that results in swelling can keep the Eustachian tube from being able to regulate the pressure, which causes the inner ear’s pressure to drop. When this occurs it turns the area into a pocket of air that becomes vulnerable to even minor changes in altitude. A dysfunctional Eustachian tube can be responsible for popping sounds in the ear, a feeling of fullness, and moderate to significant ear pain.

Cold and Sinuses

Sometimes a blocked ear can be caused by a cold. A stuffy or runny nose that usually accompanies a cold can also lead to a buildup of mucous. If the mucous blocks up the Eustachian tube then it could keep the tube from doing its job. In most cases the blockage quickly goes away as soon as the cold runs its course and the blockage in the nasal and Eustachian area passes through. If your “cold” seems to last for longer than a few days or if your nose and ear remain blocked up then it might be possible that you are suffering from sinus issues rather than a cold. The most likely cause of sinus blockage and pressure is inflammation.

How to Treat a Blocked Ear

“Blockage” in the ear can be treated several ways, depending on the source of the problem. You might be right to suspect that you have an ear infection if you have a fever, ear pain, hearing loss, drainage from the ear, and/or loss of appetite. In order to treat the infection—as well as the resulting blocked sensation in your ear—then you will need to see your doctor. You will probably be given a prescription for an oral antibiotic to get rid of the bacteria that is causing the infection. The antibiotic will likely need to be taken anywhere from seven days to two weeks, depending on what type of prescription you are given. After a few days on the antibiotic you should find that your symptoms improve significantly. You should continue to take the full course of your antibiotic treatment even after the symptoms have improved to ensure that all of the infectious bacteria are wiped out.

If you have recently experienced a change in air pressure, such as diving in a swimming pool, riding on a plane, or visiting a place with high altitude, then you may simply need to pop your ears to re-pressurize the inner ear. Taking a big yawn or pinching your nose while trying to gently blow through it are ways that you can do this.

If you have a cold or excessive sinus pressure then you may want to see about taking a decongestant or expectorant. This type of medication can help relieve the blocked or excess mucous that is responsible for improper Eustachian function.

If none of these things seems to relieve your hearing issues, or if you seem to experience chronic ear aches regardless of attempted treatments, then you may need to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist.